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AUTHOR ARCHIVES

Matt Vasilogambros

Matt Vasilogambros is a policy writer for National Journal, covering foreign affairs, the White House and Congress. He previously covered the 2012 presidential election and other federal elections for the National Journal and The Hotline. Before joining the company, Matt covered politics for PoliticsDaily.com, the Iowa Independent and the Huffington Post. Matt is a graduate of Drake University, where he served as editor-in-chief of the award-winning student newspaper. He is a native of Arlington Heights, Ill.

August 6, 2013
Former President George W. Bush had heart surgery on Tuesday morning after doctors discovered a blockage in one of his arteries. During Bush's annual physical examination in Dallas on Monday, doctors found the blockage. On Tuesday morning, doctors placed a stent in his artery. The surgery was performed at Texas...

July 26, 2013
Twelve years of war is a long time—not just for the troops fighting, but also for the American public watching the final stages of the U.S. drawdown. And it looks as if this war fatigue is translating in the polls. Americans are now questioning the very motivation for going to...

July 19, 2013
It's been nearly three years, but the Israelis and Palestinians are heading back to the negotiating table. And John Kerry might be the reason why. The secretary of state announced the agreement from Jordan on Friday, saying the two bodies will soon resume peace talks. "We have reached an agreement...

July 17, 2013
Attorney General Eric Holder echoed President Obama on Wednesday, calling for a national dialogue on violence and communities. But he also veered away from the president's initial message of taking the middle ground. He spoke against the "stand-your-ground" laws like the one a Florida jury used to acquit George Zimmerman....

July 11, 2013
What a difference a few months make. Just 40 percent of Americans give the president positive marks on foreign policy, his worst rating ever in that category, according to a new Quinnipiac poll released on Thursday. Now, a majority of Americans, at 52 percent, disagree with the way he's dealing...

July 11, 2013
What a difference a few months make. Just 40 percent of Americans give the president positive marks on foreign policy, his worst rating ever in that category, according to a new Quinnipiac poll released on Thursday. Now, a majority of Americans, at 52 percent, disagree with the way he's dealing...

July 8, 2013
The Transportation Security Administration would like you to know something: Do not panic if you see Muslims observing Ramadan. The Muslim holiday starts Monday evening. On its website, the TSA released a statement telling travelers and security staff that for the next month Muslims might be seen in airports "engaged...

July 5, 2013
If it works, why change it? This seems to be the White House's thinking when it reacts to monthly jobs numbers. Since last July, Alan Kruger, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, has opened each of his statements in the same fashion: While more work remains to...

June 28, 2013
FROM NEXTGOV
The United States is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on aircraft that Afghan Special Forces can't even fly. According to a new report released Friday from the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, the Defense Department is moving forward with the purchase of aircraft—valued at $772 million—that Afghan Special...

June 27, 2013
It's been nearly 2,000 days since there was a full-time watchdog at the State Department, and Sen. Ted Cruz is going to do something about it. The Texas Republican is threatening to block any State Department nomination, including Samantha Power as the next ambassador to the United Nations, until President...